Dr Ferry PW Melchels, Assistant Professor, Heriot-Watt’s Institute of Biological Chemistry, Biophysics and Bioengineering said: “In this project capsules will be prepared that are inserted under the skin together with the first injection. The capsule contains the vaccine as well as a sugar solution.

“The sugar will attract water to flow in through the capsule wall, leading to pressure build-up and eventually bursting of the capsule, and delivery of the vaccine booster.

“By carefully tailoring the material properties and capsule design, we aim to achieve release at the desired time-point, without needing any intervention.

“This will omit the need for a second visit to the doctor or a second visit from the vet; it will even allow to vaccinate wildlife without having to recapture the animals to give them their booster shots.

“We aim to begin the first step by developing and testing the capsules, and applying them to fight tuberculosis in cattle.”